Dangers of compromise.
Throughout Christian history, some individuals practiced the spirit of Jezebel. They introduced teachings and interpretations of Scriptures that did not initially appear to contradict the sound gospel. Gospel is the good news. The good news is Jesus Christ. Those who practiced the spirit of Jezebel did not oppose Jesus Christ openly. On the contrary, they often spoke well about Jesus Christ. However, they presented their teachings as an additional light to what Jesus left to the faithful through the apostles. The simple but sincere believers often do not recognize that the claim of having new light is the denial of Jesus Christ as the full and final revelation of God the Father to humankind.
The danger arises when Churches, in the interest of equity, inclusion, and political correctness, adopt the attitude of compromise in the spirit displayed by Jezebel and Balaam. When the Churches in the Jezebel and Balaam’s spirit allow an individual or group to advocate and promote ideas that diminish the sound teachings of Jesus and the apostles, self-deception is inevitable. Any compromise will lead the believers away from Christ by turning their eyes on themselves rather than on Jesus Christ. We are either surrendered and committed to our first love, Jesus Christ, or we do not belong to him. There is no middle ground. Those who have died to themselves so that Christ can live in them hold on to Jesus Christ in defiance of what Satan throws their way. They are, like the faithful in Smyrna. They are committed believers for life. They endure daily slander and ridicule because of their steadfast trust in Jesus. Therefore, Jesus tells them, “Do not be afraid.” They do not have to fear because Jesus is with them always.
The self-proclaimed experts in the Scriptures deceptively introduce the man-conceived teachings, which, often unnoticeably, diminish and downgrade the all-inclusive sufficiency of the Cross of Christ. Not I, but Christ should be the commitment of every yielded believer. The yielded believers do not hold any teachings equal to Jesus Christ or in addition to him. No matter how good it sounds, nothing should be allowed to stand between a believer and his Savior. Jesus Christ was successful in what God sent him to accomplish on our behalf. Jesus, on the cross, proclaimed, “IT IS FINISHED,” and, therefore, it is finished. Jesus completed the work Father sent him to do. John 17:1 – 4.
The consequences of self-deception. Read the next blog.
